The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce

✦  Chapter 37 — Marital Disputes  ✦

「Translator – Creator」

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

“…………..”

“…………..”

In the gentle stillness of night, two red-haired figures lay side by side on the bed.

Though sisters by blood, they had never shared such intimate proximity before, and an awkward air hung between them like a delicate veil; the only time they had laid together before was when Shauren had collapsed after being thoroughly defeated in their sparring matches.

“………….”

*Gulp—*

Shauren, in particular, was wound tight with tension, her earlier slip of tongue at the tavern with Silverna weighing heavily on her mind.

‘What should I do? I don’t think she knows… but what if she does?’

Should she confess now and beg for forgiveness?

Would that be the right choice?

‘But if I bring it up now, she might kill me without anyone even noticing!’

After all, they were alone in the room.

 There was no one to stop Rianna if things escalated. Perhaps it would be safer to come clean tomorrow, in the presence of others.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind like leaves before a storm, as if she were lying beside a sleeping beast—

“Can’t sleep?”

Rianna’s voice drifted softly through the darkness, her eyes remaining closed.

“Ah, y-yeah.”

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can sleep elsewhere.”

“No, no! That’s not it at all!”

Shauren quickly grabbed Rianna as she began to rise.

Driving her sister away now would make tomorrow truly unbearable.

“I don’t mind sleeping with you! I just… have a lot on my mind, that’s all!”

“…………”

Rianna settled back down slowly.

After clearing her throat awkwardly, she asked—

“What kind of thoughts?”

“Oh, well, you see—”

Shauren fidgeted, casting furtive glances at Rianna before carefully testing the waters.

“Don’t you think Silverna might have feelings for Isaac?”

“…………”

“I-I mean, it seems possible, doesn’t it?!”

Shauren blurted out, panic driving her to fill the silence with whatever words came to mind.

With eyes fixed on the ceiling, Rianna lay motionless, her expression unreadable. The gentle flutter of her eyelids betrayed nothing of the thoughts swirling beneath.

After a long pause, she spoke briefly.

“Certainly.”

A single word, whispered into the darkness; the words slipped from her lips like a fleeting breeze.

Shauren’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

“Really? You’re that sure?”

“Yes.”

For Rianna had heard it herself, during those days she played the role of a maid.

[I… I think I’m in love.]

Silverna’s whispered confession to Anna, hidden beneath layers of shame; though many thoughts had crossed her mind then, they all led to a single truth.

“But it’s not something I can interfere with anymore.”

The sorrow threading through Rianna’s voice made Shauren turn instinctively toward her sister. The raw emotion in her voice was startling – she had never seen her sister quite so vulnerable.

“Sister?”

“Because I’m divorced.”

“B-but you’re still his wife, for now.”

“For now, yes.”

“You never know! Isaac might change his mind and decide to stay.”

Shauren found herself in the strange position of consoling her sister, yet the words continued to pour forth, driven by an inexplicable need to comfort.

“No, Isaac has already made his decision.”

“…Sister?”

She instinctively reached out and took Rianna’s hand, her voice trembling as she noticed the cracks in her sister’s usually composed demeanor.

“He wouldn’t even accept an apology.”

The guilt in Rianna’s tone struck Shauren deeply. She, too, carried a sense of regret for the way Isaac had been treated in the past—used and disregarded as if he were a mere servant.

“Sister.”

And knowing Rianna had stood by, watching it all unfold—

“Why did you let our brothers torment Isaac?”

At Shauren’s questioning, Rianna released a breath that seemed to carry the weight of years.

“Does the reason even matter anymore?”

She closed her eyes tightly.

“I made a choice, and it was the wrong one. That’s all there is to it.”

“…So you’re letting Isaac go now?”

“Yes. That’s why you should stop saying silly things about whether Silvanna has feelings for him or not.”

It’s disrespectful to Isaac, she added softly.

Shauren nodded slightly, guilt flickering in her eyes as she hesitated before speaking, “Since you’re letting him go, I’ll make one honest confession.”

“……….”

“I, um, might’ve accidentally told Silverna. About your and Isaac’s divorce.”

“……….”

“But since you’re letting him go anyway, it shouldn’t be a big dea— AAAAAHHH! OW! STO-STOP! LET GO OF MY HAND!”

Shauren found herself helpless against her sister’s iron grip.

“LIARRRR!”

🎕

The next day.

Isaac and Rianna were summoned separately by the Margrave for questioning.

“………….”

“………….”

The place they were called to seemed more suited for dining than interrogation; though somewhat cramped, the room was warmly lit by lanterns, with simple refreshments like sandwiches and dried meat laid out on the table.

There was even a bottle of liquor present, making one question if this was truly meant to be an interrogation at all.

The two sat side by side, an oddly awkward current flowing between them from yesterday’s events.

As the Margrave’s absence stretched on, Isaac finally cleared his throat and turned to Rianna.

“Uh, about last night… Did you, uh… sleep well?”

“Yes, I stayed in Shauren’s room.”

Rianna’s reply was curt, her tone flat and unreadable. Yet, her usual detached demeanor oddly reassured Isaac — it was a semblance of familiarity amidst the awkwardness.

‘That’s a relief.’

He had been troubled by turning away a woman who had made such an earnest advance.

Though he felt sorry for causing her shame, he had no choice but to send her away.

If they had stayed together—

“Ahem, that’s good to hear.”

“And you? Did you sleep well?”

“Oh, you know, I slept fine. Exhaustion knocked me out pretty quickly.”

“I see. That’s good to hear.”

Rianna echoed his words.

Her eyes, devoid of even a grain of emotion, remained fixed on the entrance, seeming to urge someone’s arrival.

Yet as no one came, she released a soft breath and glanced sideways at Isaac.

“If you ever need help, let me know.”

“Help?”

“With Aura. I can teach you here if you want.”

“……….”

Aura.

A realm Isaac had never managed to grasp.

[Aura? Don’t jest. When you reach the pinnacle, such things become unnecessary.]

Recalling his Grand Master’s words, Isaac responded:

“Teach me.”

Had the Grand Master been present, she would have pouted and said, [Let her be your master then.]

But she wasn’t here now, was she?

It was right to learn while the opportunity presented itself.

“…Alright.”

Rianna’s eyes widened slightly at Isaac’s easy acquiescence.

As she fought to suppress the slight upward curl of her lips, the door finally opened, and in walked Ulderan Caldias.

“Took me a while. Some beasts were swarming near the Wall.”

Ulderan sat down and immediately popped some dried meat into his mouth.

As he chewed, his eyes swept over the pair, and his expression twisted into something ambiguous.

“Rather stiff, aren’t you? I arranged this hoping you’d spend some tender moments together.”

“………….”

“………….”

“Hmm, was that too presumptuous? Or are you just nervous?”

Ulderan chuckled, taking a swig of liquor and clearly enjoying his own humor.

“No need to be tense. Just answer what’s asked – I have no intention of reprimanding you. Though I can’t speak for how Helmund might view things.”

He picked up another piece of dried meat and, before placing it in his mouth, used it to gesture toward Rianna.

“I may have accepted your words as ‘Rianna,’ but you’re aware, aren’t you, that Arandel won’t take kindly to a Helmund kneeling before a Caldias?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“…Kneeling?”

Isaac stared at Rianna with a bewildered expression.

Rianna deliberately kept her gaze fixed ahead, refusing to turn aside.

“You’re saying she knelt? Rianna did?”

“Hadn’t you heard? It was quite the desperate sight. Seems someone’s learned a thing or two about romance.”

Ulderan chuckled heartily.

Isaac gazed at Rianna with an incredulous look, his words sharp with disbelief.

“Are you mad? Do you have any idea what the Head of House would say? He’s already furious about you coming here in secret!”

“I’m well aware.”

“You know and still… Ah, forget it.”

Isaac propped his chin on his hand, his response curt and dismissive.

Seeing his reaction, Rianna’s eyes flickered slightly, and she added quietly, “I did it to save you.”

“The Margrave would have been enough without you.”

“That would have weakened the front Wall’s defense. The Margrave can’t leave his post carelessly.”

“If you’re so observant of your surroundings, you should have been more aware of your own position. What do you plan to do when you return to Helmund?”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

“Right, I’m sure the Head of House will be very understanding.”

“I told you—I did it to save you.”

“Even so, you should’ve handled it more sensibly. Do you have any idea how big of a deal this is?”

“I saved you, didn’t I? Isn’t that what matters? The damage could have been worse if I hadn’t come. And you still can’t wield Aura, can you?”

“Oh, so that’s how you’re going to talk now?”

“And who started with the snide remarks?”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about you! How do you think Father is going to feel about a Helmund kneeling and scraping?”

“I knelt because I was worried about you.”

“Then maybe you should’ve started worrying about me sooner.”

Their argument spiraled into a clash of sharp words, neither willing to give ground.

Watching them blankly, Ulderan nodded to himself.

‘Is this how they show concern for each other?’

Despite the heated words, it was clear from their tone and intent that both were driven by worry for the other.

‘The Helmunds sure are quite unique.’

Deciding to let them hash it out, he leaned back and contented himself with chewing on his jerky, giving them all the time they needed.

🎕

After finishing her shift, Silverna hesitated as she stepped into the Malideen Castle. The interrogation seemed to be taking longer than expected, so she decided to check on things.

[Why would I go around talking about their divorce? If anything, they’re the foolish ones, constantly telling me to be careful! It’s so frustrating!]

Shauren’s words from yesterday echoed in her mind, making it impossible for her to focus on her duties. Moreover, seeing Shauren’s listless, deflated state today confirmed that these weren’t merely drunken ramblings.

‘Divorce?’

If that were true.

If it were really true.

‘Perhaps… for me—’

“My lady?”

“Eep?!”

Lost in her reverie and barely watching where she was going, Silverna startled backward.

Anna stood in the corridor.

Arms crossed, she studied Silverna intently before asking:

“Where are you headed?”

“Oh? Ah, just—”

As Silverna fumbled for words, embarrassment stealing her voice, Anna asked directly—

“You’re going to see Isaac, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

“They’re probably still in the middle of questioning, you know?”

“Well, he is still part of my unit. I just wanted to check on him, that’s all.”

Silverna’s voice grew progressively smaller. Anna strode toward her with purpose, letting out a sigh as she reached out, “Let me undo some buttons.”

“Huh?”

Anna unfastened two buttons on Silverna’s shirt, then placed her hands on her shoulders with firm resolve.

“If you’re going to do this, do it properly. If you’re going to steal him, do it decisively.”

“…Anna?”

“My lady, do you think opportunities like this come often? The married man you pine for happens to be heading for divorce? This is… this is truly heaven-sent.”

“Anna?!”

“Hurry up and go! Though Rianna Helmund may be beautiful, you’re no less attractive yourself.”

“R-really?”

“With those, most men would fall head over heels. Especially since it seems to be a weakness for the Helmunds.”

Anna gestured toward her chest with her chin.

Though Silverna scratched her cheek in embarrassment, she allowed Anna to usher her toward the guest room being used for questioning, and—

“Just let me win once.”

“No.”

The interrogation room she’d expected to be tense—

For some reason, three people sat at the table, enjoying a card game.

“…You used to let me win before.”

As Rianna puffed her cheeks indignantly, Isaac clicked his tongue and retorted—

“That’s because I was single then.”

“………..”

“Now stop puffing your cheeks like that.”

END of CHAPTER

☩

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